Melbourne Frontcourters Are Awards Front-runners

January 16, 1986|By Jerry Greene of The Sentinel Staff

Two frontcourters, young Aperribay and veteran Oscar, can plan on celebrating as Melbourne Jai-Alai approaches its closing ceremonies on Monday night. The two stars will have an armful of trophies to take with them.

Aperribay will take the most coveted trophy for overall victories. The rising player had 134 victories after Tuesday night, 18 ahead of Oscar.

However, Oscar will clain more trophies than any other player as the top feature-game performer of the season. He will win the featured singles title as he has 29 victories to 21 for Apraiz, and he will take the featured, 13th- game doubles title with 27 victories to 22 for Napa.

Teamed with Isidro, Oscar also won this year's Gold Cesta championship.

The two backcourt titles are up for grabs. In overall victories, Beltran and Trejo are tied at 94. In the backcourt featured doubles race, Gerardo, Andre and Davezac have 19 each, and Beltran and Olano have 18.

Rookie of the year is a race between Jorge, Joe and Busti with Jorge probably having the edge.

Both attendance and handle for 1985 were slightly down from 1984, Melbourne's best season.

Carrying on after the season closes will be Napa and Beltran, who are representing Melbourne and Daytona Beach in the National Championship tournament. Napa has been playing aggressively and has won respect in the first two rounds of the tournament. Beltran has been playing too conservatively to date.

The Melbourne roster will move to Daytona Beach for the opening performance there on Feb. 5.

MORE JAI-ALAI: The National Championship tournament resumes Friday night in Miami. The current standings are Palm Beach 17, Orlando 14, Tampa 12, Dania 10, Miami 9 and Daytona Beach 8. A victory on its home court is almost imperative for the Miami team if it is to get back into the hunt. The remaining qualifying dates are Jan. 31 in Tampa, Feb. 7 in Dania and Feb. 19 in Daytona Beach. . . . Tampa opened last weekend.

ORLANDO GREYHOUNDS: Races are being filled this week with a number of top dogs from Tampa, where the track closed Saturday. Sarah's Ribbon, who won the Tampa Derby, has moved over along with other 3/8ths talents such as Sailing Charger, Ocean Mermaid and Jody's Pleasure. Best start of the season belongs to ML Gunsmoke, who has two victories and a second in Grade A competition at 5/16ths of a mile.